India wins the T20 series 3-1.
It was an all-round performance from the Indian eves as they beat South Africa 3-1 in the T20 series. Mithali Raj and J. Rodrigues kept their feet on the pedal, hammering 96 off the last 10 overs. Raj got out after scoring her 13th T20I fifty while Rodrigues and later Harmanpreet Kaur, punished the South African bowlers with some clean hitting; India finishing with a combative 166.
In response, South Africa's chase never got going as it folded for a paltry 112. Pandey, Dhar and Gayakwad took three wickets apiece for India.
Ismail is beaten by the wrong one and is stumped. South Africa 100/7.
15 Overs: 99/6
India is inching closer to yet another comprehensive victory here. It is perhaps safe to say that the wheels are now well and truly off South Africa's chase - just a matter of time before the visitor takes the series 3-1. Or is there a final twist in the tale?
South Africa needs 68 to win from five overs.
C.L. Tryon's riposte comes to an end; Gayakwad getting rid of her for 25 off 17 balls. She has lofted a full delivery straight into the hands of Harmanpreet at long-off. South Africa 75/6.
10 Overs: 56/5
South Africa has committed harakiri at Newlands, Cape Town, losing its first five wickets in a hurry. Pandey and Dhar have been right on the money, claiming three and two wickets each. The end is nigh for the Proteas!
Half the side is back in the hut as Pandey grabs her third wicket! Klerk is out bowled for 4 off three balls. South Africa 44/5.
India has another one! Du Preez is out for 17. South Africa 40/4.
South Africa losing the plot here; wicket No. 3 for the visitor as L Lee departs for three. Lee looked to give this one a thwack but the outside edge found the short third-man where Poonam Yadav took a fine catch. South Africa 20/3.
A four followed by a wicket! Shikha Pandey has uprooted Sune Luus' off-stump, bowls her for 5. South Africa two for 18 at the end of five overs. Last powerplay over coming up.
Change of ends for Shikhar Pandey.
Seven runs scored but importantly India has removed the South African captain. One for 13 after four overs.
Dhar gives India the first breakthrough: Dane van Niekerk mistimes her attempted hoick over mid-on, and is caught at mid-on. Out for 10.
Rumeli Dhar into the attack.
Another powerplay over in which only three runs were scored. Vastrakar not as immaculate with her second over as her first but the South African openers have been docile so far.
Shikha Pandey backs up Vastrakar's tight start with a good over of her own. Only three runs off it and a third of the powerplay up!
A maiden first up! A testing over from Vastrakar. She got the first three balls to move away from Lizelle Lee, before swinging it back in to cap off the over. Lee didn't seem to quite know which was coming in and which was leaving her.
Raj and Rodrigues took the attack to South Africa in the second-half of the innings, propelling India to a competitive target of 166. The duo hammered 16 runs off one Ismail over before Raj got an outside edge back to the keeper and Rodrigues fell to a loose-handed pull. Harmanpreet Kaur's 17-ball cameo kept the sparse crowd entertained. South Africa needs 167 to draw level in the five -T20I sries.
Another one bites the dust. And it's Rodrigues who has to walk back to the dressing room. She departs for a quickfire 44 off 34 balls. India 134/3.
A wicket against the run of play! Raj has nicked one to the 'keeper. She departs for a well-crafted 62 off 50 balls. India 130/2.
15 Overs: 115/1
Raj and J Rodrigues have upped the ante. While Raj has dashed to her 13th T20I half-century, slamming her third six of the innings in the process, Rodrigues has hammered Ntozakhe for a boundary and a six to help India past the 100-run mark in the 14th over. India would want the duo to continue the good work! A score of 150 is still not out of reach.
10 Overs: India 71/1
It hasn't been a walk in the park for the Indians, who struggled to break the shackles early in the innings. However, Raj showed signs of aggression, driving one back past the bowler for a boundary and followed it up with couple of big hits to inject some urgency in the batting.
5 Overs: India 36/1
A Khaka and M Kapp share the new ball. It has been a poor start by Khaka, who conceded six wides in her first over. Meanwhile, -Mandhana got off the mark with a delightful drive through cover for a boundary but has struggled since. Raj, on the other hand, watched the action unfold from the other end, for three overs before unfurling a brace of bondaries - one past point and the other towards third-man off Shabnim Ismail. Mandhana was out, caught by Klass who kept her eyes on the ball till the last minute before diving forward to complete a fine catch.
Gone! That's out! What a catch that by Klass. Mandhana departs for 13 off 14 balls. India 32/1.
Mithali Raj and S Mandhana open the innings for India.
Match has been delayed by rain!
Here's the playing XI:
South Africa Women : Lizelle Lee(w), Dane van Niekerk(c), Sune Luus, Mignon du Preez, Nadine de Klerk, Chloe Tryon, Marizanne Kapp, Shabnim Ismail, Ayabonga Khaka, Masabata Klaas, Raisibe Ntozakhe
India Women : Mithali Raj, Smriti Mandhana, Harmanpreet Kaur(c), Jemimah Rodrigues, Veda Krishnamurthy, Rumeli Dhar, Shikha Pandey, Taniya Bhatia(w), Pooja Vastrakar, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Poonam Yadav
Toss update: South Africa has won the toss and opted to field first.
Hello and welcome to Sportstar 's live coverage of the fifth and final T20I between India women and South Africa women from Newlands, Capetown. Let's hope the rain stays away this time around!
The onus will be on the top order - Mithali Raj, Smriti Mandhana and Harmanpreet Kaur - to anchor the Indian innings. In the bowling department, spinners Anuja Patil - the top wicket-taker for India - and Poonam Yadav, and fast bowler Pooja Vastrakar will be expected to continue their good run.
You can read our preview here: SA vs IND: Double series win in sight for Indian women
The fourth T20 was called off due to rain, making it India's first abandoned game in T20I history. This is how the teams fared in the third T20. A five-wicket win for South Africa helped it stay alive in the series.
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